Rent Black Bag (2025)

Slick, Weird and Razor Sharp - Black Bag review by griggs

Black Bag is classic Soderbergh—slick, weird, and hard to pin down. It’s not quite a thriller, not quite a comedy, but more of a chaotic spy procedural where nothing really adds up. It’s fun to watch it all unfold. The script is razor-sharp and full of quick, clever and funny dialogue.

Michael Fassbender is back in his The Killer automaton mode—cold, efficient, and slightly terrifying—while Cate Blanchett chews up every scene ably supported by the superb Tom Burke, Naomie Harris while Pierce Brosnan reminds us he still oozes charisma even if it is with a sinister edge. It’s a film bursting with talent but never hits as hard as it should. Still, you could do much worse if you’re up for a stylish, oddball romp with a great cast.

Theatrical clunker - Black Bag review by Alphaville

A real disappointment from director Steven Soderbergh. Michael Fassbender has to discover which of his five fellow intelligence officers is a traitor. Good-enough premise, poor execution with ridiculous dialogue, theatrical acting and banal direction. It might work better in the theatre and it certainly sounds like a play, with the cast made to spout unrealistic dialogue at each other to reach the back row rather than talk to each other with any realism. None of it rings true. The long early scene of the six of them trading lines around a dinner table is so artificial that it’s difficult to take anything that follows seriously. In any case, the plot rambles and many scenes just tread water.

Confusing - Black Bag review by KB

Quite a complex and confusing film. The first half i was trying to work out what was going on & i found it a bit tedious but then in the second half the tempo picks up. On the plus side it's not too long .Yet another film that is visually dark & it is mainly set inside. Maybe a film that isn't as clever as it thinks it is.